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The RV rounded a sharp corner and made her stumble once she had finally managed to get down from her spot on the table, but she somehow succeeded in keeping both her balance and her hat on her head. After glancing over her shoulder to ensure that Bonnie was still asleep with Forky clutched in a sleep-slackened hand, she turned her attention back to Buzz who was sitting a short distance away with his back pressed to the cabinet.
He’d been sitting there awhile now, ever since she and the others had decided to go and try to get some sleep after leaving the carnival, and she could tell that he had a lot on his mind. It was unsurprising, really. His telling Woody to remain with Bo instead of going home with them had been the right thing to do, but that didn’t mean it’d been easy for him to do. For as long as she’d known them, he and Woody had always been inseparable.
She didn’t say anything right away when she reached him, choosing instead to drop down next to him on the floor of the RV and cross one leg over the other. The two of them sat there in silence for quite some time, listening to the purr of the engine and Bonnie’s soft, deep breathing while she slept, until eventually he reached for her hand and took it in his own. She curled her fingers around his on instinct, turning her head slowly in his direction.
“You doin’ okay?” She asked, though she figured he already knew the answer.
He sighed. “Yeah. I’m okay. It was the right thing to do.”
“I know,” She nodded, reaching up to remove her hat so she could let her head fall against the door of the cabinet. “Doesn’t mean you don’t get to be sad about it at the same time though. Woody, he…he was always around. Now he won’t be, and I don’t know how long it’s gonna take for things to feel normal again. I got some boots to fill too,” She looked down at the badge Woody gave her on the carousel. “I’m scared I’m just gonna mess things up.”
He shook his head as he looked her way for the first time since she’d sat down beside him. “He wouldn’t have given you his badge if he didn’t have faith in you,” He reminded her. “And the room needs a proper leader. If it’s any consolation, I…uh…I’m glad he chose you.”
The corner of her mouth curled into a smirk. “And you’re not mad he didn’t pick you?”
“Well, I didn’t say that.” He retorted, though there was no heat behind it.
She snorted with amusement and gave him a playful nudge. “Maybe you’ll be my deputy.”
“Yeah, like that’ll ever happen.”
“It might."
“We’ll see.”
She pressed a kiss to his cheek at his grumbling before allowing her head to fall against his shoulder, smiling when she felt him turn his head so he could rest his chin atop her hair. They sat like that for a little while longer before she tightened her grip on his hand.
“He’ll be alright, you know,” She reminded him. “If any toy has what it takes to make it out there, he does. And it’s better for him than spendin’ all his time stuck in that old closet.”
He chuckled. “You say that like it won’t be Bo dealing with most of it.”
She couldn’t help but laugh along with him. “Yeah, you’re right. The lost-toy life suits her.”
“Yeah…” He agreed before the two of them fell into comfortable silence again for a time. Eventually, he lifted his head to look down at her. “You should get back to the table.”
She shook her head. “I’m good right here.”
“Jess–”
“Arguin’ with me ain’t gonna do nothin’.”
He knew that well enough, he supposed.
He’d been dealing with her stubborn streak for years now.
“Yes, Ma’am.” He teased, giving her a mock-salute that only made her swat at his chest.
She settled again a few moments later, wrapping her arms around the arm closest to her as she settled in and tucked her head a little further into his neck. “G’night, Buzz.”
“Night, Jessie,” He echoed. “And…uh…thanks.”
She didn’t answer him that time, and she didn’t need to.
She just nestled closer, closing her eyes and settling properly as the RV continued on down the road, taking them both ever-closer to home.